Vols. for 1994-1995 distributed to depository libraries in microfiche.

General Note:

Special "80th anniversary supplement" issue published on Aug. 12, 1994.

General Note:

Special ed. for 65th anniversary of the Panama Canal issued at end of Oct. 1979, is also a joint issue with: The News: authorized unofficial publication of the U.S. Armed Forces, Quarry Heights, Panama, and includes the text of the Panama Canal Act.

By Maria Gabriela Guardia
The transfer of areas bordering the
Panama Canal to Panamanian hands is cur-
rently transforming the region formerly
known as the Canal Zone. The Panamanian
government established the Interoceanic
Region Authority (ARI) to plan and oversee
the development of these transferred areas,
and convert them into sources of employ-
ment and catalysts for the globalization of
the country's economy.
One of the areas that will undergo major
transformation is the one that includes the
Amador peninsula and the causeway that
extends from it. Six foreign and Panama-
nian business ventures have signed con-
tracts for a total $600 million investment in
the development of luxurious tourist com-
plexes on Amador. These projects include
the construction of hotels, time-share resi-
dences, a convention and exhibition center,
commercial centers, restaurants, a profes-
sional 18-hole golf course, bicycle and walk-
ing paths, marinas and a cruise ship port-of-
call.
The U.S.-Korean consortium, UETG, has
already begun demolishing barracks located
on Amador, while at the same time ARI is
working to modernize the area's infrastruc-
ture. Also, ARI is planning to widen
Amador's main road, which will also be
connected to the Avenida de los Martires
(formerly called Fourth of July Avenue).
Next to the Soberanfa National Park (for-
merly Summit Park) and Gatun Lake, other
recreational projects are being developed,

including an 18-hole golf club, restaurants,
rental cabins and a center for ecological
observation known as the "Canopy Tower."
On the Atlantic side, the former School of
the Americas is being transformed by a Span-
ish-Mexican consortium, Detur, into a tour-
ism complex that will include a hotel and
time-share units near the shores of Gatun
Lake.
Perhaps the most visible so far are the
hundreds of small businesses that are flour-
ishing as a consequence of the changes. One
example is the rebuilding of the Balboa
bowling alley and its conversion into a mod-
em restaurant that will be styled on turn-of-
the-century Canal installations. The com-
pany that won the contract for this property
has promised to give employment priority to
qualified Panamanian personnel who have
lost their jobs with the Panama Canal Com-
mission or the U.S. military as a conse-
quence of the Carter-Torrijos Treaty.
In the Albrook area, ARIhasjoined forces
with the Ministry of Public Works for the
construction and widening of access roads
that include the Omar Torrijos Herrera
(Gaillard) and Ascanio Arosemena
(Roosevelt) Avenues. Widening work will
start this year in preparation for anticipated
heavier traffic in the area due to the modern-
ization of the railroad and the port of Balboa
and the move of the Marcos A. Gelabert
airport in Paitilla to Albrook. In addition, a
commercial center and a bus terminal for
transportation to Panama's interior prov-
inces will be constructed.

Remodeling building Photo courtesy of ARI
The former Balboa bowling alley is being completely remodeled and converted into a
modern restaurant styled on turn-of-the-century Canal installations.

"With just what has reverted so far, it is
projected that in the next few years 30,000
job vacancies, both temporary and perma-
nent, will open, and more than $1 billion will
be invested in the commercial, industrial,
maritime and tourism sectors," said
Maricarmen Sarsanedas, ARI's Public Re-
lations and Information director.
Under its obligations to the public, ARI
has made installations available to govern-
mental institutions and national and interna-
tional organizations. The Education Minis-
try is now located in the former Los Rios
elementary school, and the Foreign Rela-
tions Ministry has moved to Quarry Heights,
the former headquarters for the U.S. South-
ern Command. Albrook is the new home for
several institutions that include the Panama

Red Cross, the Supreme Court of the Ameri-
cas, various United Nations groups,
Panama's Office of the First Lady, the Na-
tional Institute of Culture, and the Civil
Aeronautics Bureau. Some charitable and
non-profit organizations have relocated in
Curundu Flats, among them CasaEsperanza,
Operaci6n Sonrisa, NATURA and the Work
Foundation, as well as the Kiwanis Club
International and the International Federa-
tion of Tennis.
The Panama Canal is also slated to ben-
efit from all this development, since various
reforestation projects are included in the
plan. ARI has already granted 3,500 hect-
ares, or about 8,645 acres, for reforestation
with tropical hardwood species that have
high commercial value.

Thrift Savings Plan initiates open

season May 15, closes July 31

Explaining the transition process Photo by Jaime Guti&rrez
Transition Management Staff Manager Jaime Bocanegra explains the process of the
transfer of the Canal to Panamanian administration to members of the press and other
invited guests during a conference held in the Panama Canal exhibit at the Azuero Fair.

Canal nurses offer diabetes seminar

Diabetes is a common chronic disease that affects not only the person with the illness but
also the people who live with the diabetic. The key to living with diabetes is to follow a
moderate lifestyle that includes diet, exercise and taking the prescribed medications.
Learn all about diabetes and living with the diabetic in a special seminar titled "Living
with Diabetes." Panama Canal Commission occupational health nurses will present the
seminar from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on May 19 and 20 at the Panama Canal Training Center in
Balboa. Because diabetes is an illness that can affect the entire family, all diabetics and their
spouses are urged to attend this two-day seminar.
For more information or reservations, call Susana Cohen at 272-5182, Cecilia De La
Iglesia at 272-8305 or Teresa Dallow at 272-3022.

Your comments are important!
Readers' opinions are important to theSpillway, and suggestions and comments
are welcome. Please direct them to the Public Relations Division (AEP, attention
Spillway editor) or to AEP-ED@pancanal.com (electronic mail), or call 272-
3202.

A Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) open sea-
son will be held May 15 through July 31.
The open season provides the opportunity
for eligible employees to enroll in TSP,
change the amount of contributions or
change the way future payroll contribu-
tions are invested in the three TSP funds.
Elections made during this open season
will become effective the first pay period
after receipt, but not earlier than July 5, the
first full pay period beginning on or after
July 1.
The TSP is a voluntary retirement sav-
ings plan and offers all participants the
choice of investing in three funds: a gov-
ernment securities fund (G), a common
stock index fund (C) or a fixed income
index fund (F). Contributions are made
through payroll deductions.
If you pay U.S. income taxes, your TSP
contributions and earnings are tax exempt
until you withdraw your account when
you retire or otherwise leave federal ser-
vice. The Internal Revenue Service has
finally agreed that the entire TSP distribu-
tion (contributions and dividends) upon
retirement is exempt from U.S. taxation if
you are neither a citizen nor a legal resi-
dent of the United States and were em-
ployed by the Panama Canal Commission
in Panama. The Panama Canal Commis-
sion will verify the employment status of
each retiring non-US employee who is a
TSP contributor. Employees will be re-
quired to certify their nonresident alien
status when applying for a TSP distribu-
tion. TSP contributions do not affect in-
come tax paid to the Republic of Panama.
Participation in the Thrift Savings Plan
is limited to employees covered by either

the Civil Service Retirement System
(CSRS) or the Federal Employees Retire-
ment System (FERS). If you are covered
by CSRS, you can contribute up to 5 per-
cent of your basic pay, and you do not
receive any agency contributions. If you
are covered by FERS, you can contribute
up to 10 percent of your basic pay each pay
period. The agency makes matching con-
tributions for the first 3 percent you con-
tribute and matches 50 cents on the dollar
for the next 2 percent. The maximum
allowable contribution to the TSP is 10
percent of your pay or an annually ad-
justed IRS limit, whichever is less ($10,000
for 1998). If you are affected by the
maximum allowable contribution, you
should consider reducing your contribu-
tions so that you will receive the entire
agency matching funds.
Employees who do not wish to make
any change in their current TSP enrollment
do not have to take any action. If you wish
to enroll, change the amount of contribu-
tions or allocate future contributions among
the three TSP investment funds, you must
submit the current TSP-1 election form to
the Payroll Branch prior to the July 31
deadline. Enter your IP number in item
number six. Your TSP account statement
will be mailed from the United States to the
address you provide in item number 1.
The basic participation rules and de-
tailed features of TSP are explained in the
Plan Summary. To obtain the summary,
necessary forms or more information, con-
tact the Retirement and Insurance Branch,
Building 287, Ancon, at 272-7831. Bear
in mind that the agency is not in a position
to offer investment counseling.

Page 2

Friday, May 8, 1998

The Panama Canal Spillway

Friday. May 8, 1998

The Panama Canal Spillway

SLabor-Management Partnership Council column

Answers provided to questions on Canal transition process

This new column has been created to
address questions, rumors or concerns
about the transition process and its impact
on personnel and other matters. Readers
may submit questions to a Labor-Manage-
ment Partnership Council representative
(see box with names and telephone num-
bers) or directly to the Spillway editor.
Question: Will employees be paid the
value of their accrued leave on December
31, 1999, or will the leave and money be
carried over to the Panama Canal Authority?
In accordance with U.S. laws and regu-
lations, Panama Canal Commission em-
ployees on the rolls on December 31, 1999,
will be paid their accumulated leave in a
lump-sum payment. The payment will be
made on Monday, January 24, 2000, and
will represent taxable income for employ-
ees for calendar year 2000. The Commis-
sion is planning on the establishment of a
small liaison office to handle all pending
obligations on December 31, .1999, in-
cluding the payment of accumulated leave.
Management is aware that many in the
workforce have indicated that they do not
wish to take any leave in 1999 in order to
maximize their lump-sum payments, even
though that might put their accrued leave
balances above the current 760-hour ceil-
ing. Such a practice on a large scale,

however, could have significant budget-
ary, productivity and health and safety
implications. Therefore, this issue will be
addressed soon at the Labor-Management
Partnership Council so that both manage-
ment and employees can make appropriate
plans.
Question: Is it true that proposed
changes to Public Law 96-70 include au-
thority to give retiring employees a lump-
sum payment equal to the amount of their
retirement contributions? Who will be
eligible to receive these lump-sum pay-
ments when they retire?
No retiring employees will receive
lump-sum retirement payments. The fis-
cal year 1999 legislative package with
proposed changes to our governing legis-
lation, Public Law 96-70, did contain lan-
guage to provide the Commission with the
authority to offer employees who are eli-
gible for immediate retirement the oppor-
tunity to elect an alternative form of annu-
ity (commonly called lump-sum retire-
ment). The package was forwarded to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
for coordination with other executive agen-
cies and clearance for submission to Con-
gress. However, OMB did not approve
this proposal, and it has been removed
from the legislative package submitted to

Congress.
Question: What's the status of the
agency manpower study?
The U.S. Army Manpower Analysis
Agency (USAMAA), contracted to per-
form the manpower study is in the process
of analyzing the gathered data. The study
is tentatively scheduled for completion at
the end of May, and the final report is
expected to be delivered to the Adminis-
trator in June. Department heads are being
contacted by USAMAA before their por-
tion of the report is finalized, so they can
review and update any relevant informa-
tion. Employees will be advised when
more information is available on this sub-
ject.
Question: What's the status of the
"transition separation incentive payment?"
The Commission is authorized to offer
a transition separation incentive of up to
$25,000 during October 1 to December
31, 1998, the second and last window
approved by Congress last year. The
agency has the discretion to offer this
transition separation incentive to employ-
ees who are eligible for immediate retire-
ment, but do not plan to work past Decem-
ber 31, 1999, to encourage them to sepa-
rate earlier than planned so their positions
can be filled by individuals who will serve

during the last year of U.S. control of the
Canal and remain with the Panama Canal
Authority after the transfer. Use of the
transition separation incentives will be ap-
proved by the Administrator upon recom-
mendation of heads of departments and
independent units. Employees who accept
the offer would have to retire by Decem-
ber 31, 1998.

President observes effects of drought Photo by Jaime Yau
On board a Canal launch, Department ofEngineering andIndustrial Services Director Tom
Drohan, left, explains the effects of the drought produced as a result of the "El Nifo"
phenomenon on Gatun Lake to Panama President Ernesto Perez Balladares and Canal
AdmnistratorAlbertoAlemdn Zubieta, in the front row, anda group ofPanama government
officials, including members of the Panama Canal Authority Board of Directors and
legislators.

Scheduled lane closures

permit locks maintenance

Recent rains allow delays for

setting new draft restrictions

In response to a rise in the Gatun lake level
due to unexpected rainfall in the Canal water-
shed, the Panama Canal Commission an-
nounced that, effective May 5 until May 16,
a maximum authorized draft of 10.97 meters
(36.0 feet) will be in effect.
"Tankers and dry bulk carriers not carry-
ing cargo on deck at the moment of transit
may be allowed, on a case by case basis, 15
centimeters (6 inches) deeper draft," Mari-
time Operations Director Rene Van Hoorde
said. To be considered for this exception, the
vessel has to be classed as such by the corre-
sponding classification society.
This special allowance is based on infor-
mation gathered inthe squat study performed
recently by the Panama Canal Commission.
This study indicated that for the two types of
vessels, the squat effect is less pronounced
than with other types of ships.
"Shipowners and operators interested in
such exceptions should apply for review and
approval prior to completion of cargo opera-
tions in the last port of loading," Van Hoorde
explained. "Application should include the

type of cargo to be carried, the ship's esti-
mated time of arrival (ETA) in Canal waters
and the vessel's horsepower and block coef-
ficient at the expected transit draft," he added.
The next draft restriction of 10.82 meters
(35.5 feet) will be implemented May 17
through May 27.
Further draft restrictions are as follows:
May 28 through June 7, 10.67 meters (35.0
feet), and, on June 8, 10.52 meters (34.5 feet).
It is anticipated that the maximum autho-
rized draft may be restricted further to 10.36
meters (34.0 feet) by June 25, says a Maritime
Operations Director's Advisory to Shipping
issued to all steamship agents, owners and
operators.
The first draft restriction resulting from
the effects of the El Niio phenomenon on
rainfall in the Canal watershed was imple-
mented on March 12, when the maximum
authorized draft was reduced from the regular
12.04 meters (39.5 feet) to 11.90 meters (39.0
feet). Until then, the Commission had taken
aggressive measures to postpone draft re-
strictions in the waterway as long as possible.

The Panama Canal Commission has
Scheduled lane outages for maintenance and
repair work at all three locks between May
18 and May 27. During the east lane closure
at Miraflores Locks, Construction and Fa-
cilities Maintenance Branch forces of the
Locks Division will replace 840 feet of tow
track on the upper-level centerwall. They
will install the track in pre-fabricated con-
crete and steel sections'as a timesaving
method.
The Maintenance Division will provide
crane support for this activity. Locks and
Industrial Division divers will also make

repairs to the northeast caisson attachment
seat.
Locks Division personnel will take ad-
vantage of the outage to install a new type of
fender system on the southeast approach
wall in the east lane at Pedro Miguel Locks.
Locks personnel will also work in the Gatun
Locks east lane during daily 10-hour out-
ages to prepare miter gates 33 and 34 for
removal in June to send them to the Indus-
trial Division for scheduled overhauls. Dur-
ing the first two days of the outage, the west
lane will close to allow relocation of miter
gate 19 and the rehanging of miter gate 15.

Earth Day poster Photo by Kevin Jenkins
Jeanne Hinek, left, and Janice Surgeon learn about the Panama Canal's environmental
programs from an Earth Day display sponsored by the Environmental Management
Division.

Page 3

The Panama Canal Spillway

Friday, May 8, 1998

New publication uses modern

format, relates Canal history

On April 30, the United Nations Devel-
opment Program (UNDP) presented a new
publication in CD-ROM format, El Canal
de Panamd, un aporte a su historia "(The
Panama Canal, a contribution to its his-
tory). The production is based on the book,
Un puente entre los Mundos: Una
cronologia de la historia del Canal de
Panamd (A Link Between two Worlds: A
Chronological History of the Panama Ca-
nal) written by Fernin Molinos D. and
sponsored by the UNDP, the United Na-
tions Education, Science and Culture Orga-
nization (UNESCO) and the Latin Ameri-
can Center for Journalism (CELAP). The
production also includes part of the work
by Mario Sol6rzano, Cuando los Politicos
Cumplen (When Politicians Fulfill Prom-
ises).
The information compiled on the com-
pact disc contains the history of the Panama
Canal from the discovery of the Pacific
Ocean until the present, including the con-
struction of the waterway, its operation and
administration, the Canal's role in the world

economy and predictions for the waterway
into the next century.
The ceremony was attended by special
guests, including Jorge Eduardo Ritter, Ca-
nal Affairs Minister and Panama Canal
Commission Board member; diplomats and
members of the local and international press.
During his speech, Panama PNUD Resi-
dent Representative Ligia Elizondo said
that the publication will be very useful for
libraries and schools throughout the coun-
try as well as for the national and interna-
tional press.
During his presentation, Ritter spoke on
the current transition process of the Panama
Canal and said, "On December 31, 1999,
only one thing will occur U.S. laws will
cease to rule, and Panama laws will begin to
govern." On the work of the Panama Canal
Commission's binational board, Ritter said
that there has been greater cooperation and
assistance than expected and that all board
decisions have been adopted unanimously.
"There has been a lot of collaboration to
achieve a smooth Canal transition," he added.

Explaining transition process Photo by Armando De Gracia
Panama Canal Affairs Minister and Panama Canal Commission Board of Directors
member Jorge Eduardo Ritter speaks on the status of the Panama Canal transition process
to an audience attending thepresentation ofa newpublication on the Panama Canal in CD-
ROMformat. The ceremony, sponsored by the United Nations Development Program, took
place in the Canal Interoceanic Museum theater.

Perhaps the happiest creatures to wel-
come recent rains are Aedes aegypti mos-
quitoes, the ones that can transmit dengue
fever. As rainwater fills natural and manmade
containers left outdoors, already-laid eggs
will activate and produce new generations
of the mosquito larvae. Adult mosquitoes
will emerge within a week or so and start
looking for humans and other mammals to
bite.
According to Entomology Unit Ento-
mologist Dr. M. M. Boreham, Panama has
already recorded 416 cases of dengue this
year. Despite the dry weather, 42 of those
cases were recorded in the first two weeks of
April, and 77 percent of this year's cases
were reported in either the Panama City
metropolitan area or western Panama prov-
ince, which includes the towns of Arraijin
and La Chorrera.
"It's been a very dry year, which may
actually have caused problems because
people store more water for household use,
and the mosquitoes breed in the uncovered
barrels," said Boreham. Everyone is urged
to cover water storage containers and pick
up objects that may catch rainwater and

serve as mosquito breeding sites. The den-
gue mosquito knows no prejudice it will
bite any warm-blooded victim it encounters,
whether it is someone's spouse, child or
grandparent. And, Boreham reminds us,
just one mosquito bite from an infected
mosquito can transmit dengue.

The Employee Fitness Branch organizes
annual Employee Health and Fitness Na-
tional Month activities because the Panama
Canal Commission is concerned about the
health and well-beingof its employees. "This
year we will hold multiple sports and recre-
ational activities during the month of May so
Canal employees can become involved in
enjoyable activities that also improve their
health and reduce stress," said Janice
Padmore, the supervisory sports and recre-
ation specialist in charge of the Commission's
fitness centers. Water sports supervisory
specialist Javier P6rez, who manages the
Canal agency's pools, supported Padmore in
organizing this year's activities.
The activities will be held after 4 p.m. on
work days to promote the participation of a
greater number of employees. Stamina and
fitness test activities will take place on May
12 at the Diablo Fitness Center and on May
15 at the Gatun Fitness Center. These activi-
ties reflect the training that the Commission
offers to Canal firefighters, including run-
ning, "pull-ups," sit-ups and push-ups. A
super-aerobics workout will be held on May

14 at the Balboa Fitness Center, and a friendly
walk will take place at the Amador Cause-
way on May 20. The weight lifting compe-
tition will include "bench press" and "squats,"
and will take place on May 21 at the Diablo
Fitness Center. Adult swim meets will be
held in the following categories: 50-yard
freestyle and backstroke, 200-yard freestyle
open, and 4 x 25-yard relay open. The swim
meets will be held on May 28 at Los Rios
Pool and on May 29 at Margarita Pool.
To register for events, call the Employee
Fitness Branch office at 272-7766 or 272-
3634 or drop by any of the Commission
fitness centers and pools. By participating,
new employees, as well as others not so new,
will have an opportunity to get to know
Commission fitness centers and pools. As
an incentive, the Employee Fitness Branch
will award prizes to participants, especially
those who win first, second or third place in
the competitions.
The branch encourages all employees to
include daily exercise in their routines and
invites them to participate in Canal sports
leagues.

Page 4

Take note

The Locks Division Line Throwing Contest has been postponed until 11:30 a.m.
May 15 at Gatun Locks. For more information, call Alexandra Wong at 443-8704.
If you are receiving a Panama Social Security pension and are working for the
Panama Canal Commission, call the Workers' Compensation Assistance Office at
272-3431 to receive additional information on your benefits.
Panama Canal Commission pools will be closed to the public for two weeks for
annual cleaning and repair work. The pools in Los Rios, on the Pacific side, and
Margarita, on the Atlantic, will be closed from April 26 through May 9. The pools in
Balboa and Gatun will close from May 10 through 23.
The Panama Canal Area Group Insurance Board will hold two orientation
sessions for plan members and their dependents on May 13 at the Balboa Youth
Center. The first session will be given in Spanish and will start at 3:30 p.m. The
second session will be given in English and will start at 4:30 p.m. The two sessions
will address how to utilize the new "point-of-service" benefits. Attendees will be able
to ask questions during the sessions.
The U.S. government Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office will conduct a
local sealed bid sale on May 12, 13 and 14 at Building 745, Corozal. Those interested
will be able to inspect and bid on the property from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Catalogues will
be available at the inspection site, and no one under 18 years of age will be allowed on
the premises. For more information, call Jos6 G. Gonzalez at 285-4754 or 285-5071.
The Men of Honor organization will hold a one-day conference at 8 a.m., May
16, at the Curundu Elementary School. For more information, call Marty Glenn at
288-3281 or James Tunstall at 288-5878.
The theater group Cultura Escinica will present the play En los Zapatos Ajenos
by Edgardo Molino Garcfa, from May 15 through 31 at the Teatro en Circulo. For
more information call 225-6126 or 223-3008.

Friday, May 8, 1998

The Panama Canal Spillway

Page 5

Canal divers confront new challenges on daily basis

By Yira A. Flores
For those who practice it as a sport,
diving can be very exciting and fun, but
for Panama Canal divers, it becomes a
challenge they must face every day. In
murky waters with almost no visibility,
expert Canal divers conduct repair work at
depths of up to 150 feet using specialized
tools and working almost entirely by sense
of touch.
Canal divers are chosen from the large
team of Locks and Industrial divisionjour-
neymen with grades MG-10 or above. "It
is a competitive process in which the ap-
plicant must pass through a series of thor-
ough physical and medical exams," says
Industrial Division Salvage and Diving
Depot Supervisor Rick Doubek, who is
responsible for training Commission divers
and diver tenders.
Doubek explained that the Canal div-
ing program began around 1940, and the
diving school was established two years
later. He added that the Industrial Divi-
sion dive team numbers 25 members, in-
cluding maintenance and clerical person-
nel. The Locks Division also has its own
diving team, which also trains at the school,
but works under the direct supervision of
the Locks diving supervisor.
Journeymen selected for the program
usually average about six in number and
attend a 10-week commercial diving course
based on U.S. Navy training requirements.
"Since they already have been trained in
their different trades, I just have to teach
them how to apply their knowledge under-
water," said Doubek. During diving op-
erations and inspections, divers also use
underwater cameras to film equipment
conditions for top-side review by manag-
ers and supervisors.
Since diving is very physically demand-
ing, dive enthusiasts are usually relatively
young. However, the Commission does
not discriminate by age when selecting
divers to form the Canal team. Once hired,
divers must pass an annual medical exam,
and any type of chronic lung disorder or
hearing, vision, alcohol or illegal drug
abuse problems are reason enough to dis-
qualify a diver immediately. "We have
some veterans on the team, but I would say
the average age is around 30 years old," he
added.
In order to review all their knowledge
and make sure they are in excellent physi-
cal condition, Commission divers from
both the Industrial and Locks divisions
undergo an annual recertification process

Preparing to dive Photo by Alfredo Ryan
Locks Division divers Gustavo Ayarza, left, and Alexis Justiniani don their diving equipment on board a barge before performing an
underwater exercise during the annual recertification course offered by the Salvage and Diving Depot in Gatun. Canal divers, who are
also highly qualified journeymen with skills from a wide variety of crafts, use special equipment and tools to perform underwater

maintenance and repair work at the Canal.

by taking a 40-hour course at the Diving
School. The course includes a physical
fitness and endurance test, essential re-
quirements for continued membership on
the team. "You cannot be a diver if you're
not in good physical condition. It wouldn't
make any sense, because you could easily
be injured," Doubek explained.
During the course, divers also review
their craft skills, such as underwater weld-
ing, as well as emergency procedures. They
also get updated in cardiopulmonary re-
suscitation and first aid methods. An Oc-
cupational Health Division diving medi-
cine officer presents the latest in diving
medicine and emergency procedures.
Milciades Lao, a diving instructor in
the recertification course this year said, "It
is important to maintain a well-trained
diving team to be able to work safely and
efficiently." He added that they make sure
divers have all the necessary background

knowledge and that their levels of exper-
tise and physical condition are acceptable.
In addition, every year the diving school
offers about five other courses that are
attended by divers and diver tenders. Diver
tenders are sub-journeymen level employ-
ees who participate in the diving operation
without going in the water, Doubek ex-
plained. They are in charge of handling air
hoses and measuring time and depth with
the use of instruments on the surface. How-
ever, although the school does not train
them to dive, some of them are sport divers
who have taken courses on their own.
Concerned with improving the team's
in-depth knowledge, the Commission also
contracts specialized companies to teach
courses. "These companies are not really
diving schools, but they offer courses re-
lated to specific aspects of diving, such as
the operation ofrecompression chambers,"
Doubek explained.
The diving team holds an industrial
safety meeting every week, and every time
an incident occurs they stop to review the
causes and consequences of previous acci-
dents. "We haven't had a diving accident
in a long time, and we maintain a good
safety record," he said.
Doubek explained that the divers are a
highly motivated group. "The job has its
risks, but we don't allow ourselves to get
bored, and because of the hazards involved,
the team is very tight. We always watch
out for each other," he added.
Precisely because of the associated haz-
ards, the team never begins a mission with-
out backup equipment. They never go in
the water without a spare air tank, a stand-
by diver or a spare radio available. "We

Recertification exercise
Locks Division diverspreparefor an under-
water dive as part of their annual recertifi-
cation course. From left are divers Alexis
Justiniani, Gustavo Ayarza and Mario
Hendy.
Photo by Alfredo Ryan

follow specific routine procedures,"
Doubek added. As if the hazards of the
job were not enough, divers also have to
work in the not-so-gracious company of
the many reptiles and marine mammals
living in Canal waters. Although divers
say that after so many years sharing the
same environment the animals are used to
humans, they use special devices to scare
curious residents away while they per-
form their jobs.
To perform their duties, Canal divers
use commercial diving equipment that sup-
plies air through a hose from the surface.
The equipment also supplies electric power
for lights that helps improve underwater
visibility.
Doubek explained that the maximum
depth for divers breathing standard air is
190 feet, but at that depth they would be
pushing the limit. As a result, Canal
divers try not to go deeper than 150 feet.
"We try not to make any dives requiring
decompression, but sometimes we must
work deeper, especially at Madden Dam.
That's why we have the recompression
chamber, in case anything does go wrong,"
he explained.
The Panama Canal Commission has
two well-equipped and staffed recompres-
sion chambers one on the Atlantic and
the other on the Pacific side. Since it is
very sophisticated equipment, its cost can
be estimated easily at a quarter-million
dollars. Add to that costs for maintenance
and staff, comprised mainly of divers,
diver supervisors, physicians and safety
and technical directors. The chamber is
more commonly referred to as a hyper-
baric facility.
"One day hardly ever repeats itself,"
said Doubek about diving work. "We are
like firefighters. We arrive at work, and
we really don't know what we will do or
where we'll go," he explained. He added,
"At any given time we can be found at any
point between the Cristobal and Balboa
anchorages. It's a new challenge every
day."

The Panama Canal Spillway

Friday, May 8, 1998

Health corner

Understanding importance of good nutrition

By Melsa GutiBrrez, nurse
Nutrition is the sum of all the processes involved in the intake and assimila-
tion of nutrients; it is what you eat and how your body uses it. An individual's
nutritional status affects performance, well being, growth, development, resis-
tance to illness and overall health.
Nutrients are in everything you eat and drink. They can be beneficial or
harmful, depending on how much or what kind of food you eat. Everyone needs
basic nutrients such as water, protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and miner-
als.
Water is essential for a good health since it aids digestion and regulates body
temperature. Six to eight glasses of water per day are recommended. Eating the
appropriate amount of proteins is necessary for the growth and repair of body
cells. Good sources of protein are lean cuts of meat, chicken, fish, eggs, beans
and the nuts group. Two or three servings of protein per day are recommended.
Carbohydrates provide the principal source of energy for the body. Good
sources of carbohydrates are found in the vegetable group, with three to five
servings per day recommended; fruits, with two or three servings per day
recommended; and bread, cereal and pasta, for six to eleven daily servings.
The fats group, from both animal and vegetable sources, includes foods such
as butter, lard, shortening, margarine and vegetable oil. All meats, poultry, fish
and shellfish and whole milk dairy products contain fat. Saturated fats, mostly
from animal sources and from tropical oils such as palm and coconut, have been
implicated in heart disease and certain types of cancer. A healthy adult should
consume no more than 30 percent of the total daily calorie intake from fat,
preferably from the polyunsaturated and mono-unsaturated fats.
Vitamins are essential for the proper use of food and normal body furction-
ing. They are important for bones, teeth, vision and resistance to infection.
A well balanced diet contains recommended servings of fruits, vegetables,
dairy products, whole grains and vegetables. Healthy blood and tissue, strong
bones and teeth and well-regulated body functions and fluids are dependent on
an adequate intake of minerals.
Using the food pyramid as a guide can help ensure that all the essential
nutrients, vitamins and minerals are available for your body to utilize. The
number of servings depends on your age, size and how active you are.
Learn to eat, not to diet. Instead of resisting your desire to eat, eat something
that is low in fat and calories. Do not skip meals or cut out any foods, since all
foods should fit into an overall meal plan. Make healthy eating a lifetime
commitment to look and feel good, be healthy, fight infection and prevent
diseases. Stay healthy and energetic by learning more about the food pyramid
and a healthy lifestyle.

Temporary promotion (not to exceed one year that may become permanent)
Maintenance scheduler (General) $18.37/$21.43 Locks P
FN-716 (Driver's license, swimming
ability and knowledge of English
and Spanish are required.)

Teachers visit the Canal Photo by Armando De Gracia
Panama Canal Commission watershed monitoring and institutional coordination specialist
Ricardo Salazar explains certain aspects of Canal water management and the importance
of the Canal watershed to Panama Education Ministry officials from the Canal west bank
during a tour ofGaillard Cut. Education officials actively participate in the Commission's
program to teach students who live in areas adjacent to the Canal about the importance of
taking care of the watershed and Canal facilities and equipment.

STHE PANAMA CANAL

Spillway

ALBERTO ALEMAN ZUBIETA JOSEPH W. CORNELISON
Administrator, Panama Canal Commission Deputy Administrator
MERCEDES MORRIS GARCIA
Manager, Public Relations Division
FRANKLIN D. CASTRELLON
Manager, Local Media and Community Relations
MYRNA A. IGLESIAS
Acting Editor
The Panama Canal Spillway is an official biweekly publication of the Panama Canal Commission. Articles may be reprinted without further
permission by crediting the source. All material should be submitted by 11:45 a.m. Thursday of the week before publication or by 11:45 a.m.
Wednesday if there is a holiday during the week of publication. Subscriptions for 52 issues are $6 by regular mail, $4 by regular mail for
students and $19 by airmail. Checks or money orders should be payable to the Panama Canal Commission. Call 272-3202 for further
information or write the Public Relations Division, Panama Canal Commission, Unit 2300, APO AA 34011-2300 or Balboa Heights, Panama.

'Only PCC employees will be considered.
2 Recruitment must come from any of these areas: Electrician, Machinist, Marine Machinist, Heavy
Mobile Equipment Mechanic, Automotive Mechanic, Assistant Engineer (Watch Standing)
and Locks Locomotive Mechanic.
3 Knowledge of microcomputer programming in database management systems (e.g. Foxpro, DBase,
Clipper or FoxBase) is required. Knowledge of Network Control Software (e.g., Novell) is required.
Knowledge of Basic and Cobol is required.
4 Knowledge of microcomputer programming in database management systems (e.g. Foxpro, DBase,
Clipper or FoxBase) is required. Knowledge of Network Control Software (e.g., Novell) is required.
5 Knowledge of microcomputer programming in database management systems (e.g., Foxpro, DBase,
Clipper or FoxBase) is required.
6 Incumbent must be a journeyman in one of the following trades: Machinist, Industrial Equipment
Mechanic, Maintenance Mechanic, Heavy Mobile Equipment Mechanic or Electrician.
7 Knowledge of employee relations.
s Incumbent will be required to obtain a 65-foot motorboat license issued by the Board of Local
Inspectors. These are upward mobility training opportunities and not vacancies. At the end of the
training the employee will qualify at the target level of the position, but will have to compete for future
vacancies.

The Panama Canal Commission is an equal opportunity employer.

Page 6

Position vacancy list

Applicants must have career or career-conditional status. To apply, submit Form 443, Applica-
tion for Transfer, by next Friday to the Employment and Placement Branch, Building 366, Ancon.
Persons selected for appointment to a permanent position or a testing-designated position will be
tested for illegal drug use prior to appointment or permanent position change
For certain positions in one-grade interval series where there is no position in the normal line of
promotion, in-service employees qualify if they possess at least one year of specialized experience
at the second-lower level of the position.
For in-service actions other than promotions, modified qualifications will be used whenever an
applicant's background includes closely related experience providing the skills necessary for
successful performance.
Proof that applicant meets special requirements (such as swimming ability, orpossession of acivil
driver's license) must be filed in the Official Personnel Folder or added to Form 443.
Salaries reflect the minimum and maximum rates of pay for the grades of the advertised positions.
Those selected will be placed in the appropriate grade and step, in accordance with regulations.
Qualifications standards may be reviewed at the Panama Canal Commission Technical Resources
Center, Building 38, Balboa.
Further information may be obtained from the Employment and Placement Branch, at 272-3583.

1
1 I ____

Friday, May 8, 1998

The Panama Canal Spillway

June employee training courses announced

The schedule of training courses to be offered to Panama Canal Commission employees during June is
provided below. Courses given in Spanish are marked with an asterisk. In cases where "videocon" is indicated
as the location, the course will be offered simultaneously on both sides of the Isthmus via videoconference.
Nominations should be submitted through training program coordinators by the suspense dates indicated.
In addition to the listed courses, a number of individualized training packets are available at the Multimedia
Center, among them "Introduction to Microcomputers," a prerequisite to the introductory Windows 95 course.

Tr.Ctr. The following article is based on the "Safety Topic of the Month"

Tr.Ctr. message written by Safety Division safety specialist Charles M.
Monaghan.
Last year, the media published news about alleged health risks associated with the
use of cellular phones. After the initial uproar, most "experts" concluded the supposed
Tr.Ctr. risks were exaggerated and unproven. With this good news, millions of cellular phone
users worldwide returned to their habit of non-stop communication on the job, in the
Tr.Ctr. street, in the air and on the road. In the United States alone, 50 million people now use
Videocon. cellularphones, and that number is expected to increase to 100 million by the year 2000.
Tr.Ctr. Appropriately, the use of cellular and mobile phones while driving is the topic of this
article. Analysis of traffic accidents in the United States, Europe and Latin America has
revealed a direct link between accidents and the usage of cellular and mobile phones in
Tr.Ctr. moving vehicles. Some facts from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Tr.Ctr.
Tr.Ctr follow:
Tr.Ctr.
Tr.Ctr. Driver inattention is a factor in 50 percent of all accidents.
Gatun Seventy percent of drivers with cellular phones admitted that phone use while
Gatun driving is distracting, but that they use them anyway.
717Bal. Contrary to popular belief, talking on the phone is more likely to cause inattention
than dialing, and a few drivers admitted to driving off the road while reaching for the
717Bal. phone to answer a call.
717Bal. Some states and countries have concluded that drivers have enough to do without
717Bal. adding cellular phone use to the list. Laws against using portable communication

Gatun devices while driving are beginning to appear around the world.
717Bal. Panama is one of those countries, and the government recently passed a law
prohibiting the use of cellular or mobile phones while driving. So, if the traffic police
pull you over for no apparent reason while you are talking on your phone, now you know
717Bal. the reason why.
Cellular phones are here to stay, and so is driving vehicles on increasingly crowded
717Bal. streets and highways. Driving is the most dangerous activity most of us engage in on a
routine basis, so let's obey the new law. Ask yourself, is a phone call really worth an
accident?
717Bal.

7117 Bal.

Gatun
717Bal.

717Bal.

717Bal.

717Bal. A

717Bal.

717Bal.

717Bal.

717Bal. Ornithologists visit Canal Photo by Jaime Yau

A group ofyoung ornithologists from Pennsylvania visit Miraflores Locks. The Philadel-
717Bal. phia Academy of Natural Science brought the young ornithologists to Panama with the
support of the Panama Audubon Society. The group spent one week with Panamanian
students and Audubon Society volunteers on the Isthmus and participated in various
scientific and cultural events.

Measuring an area
Surveying aid Gilberto Sdnchez, left, helps measure an area using direct surveying, while surveying technician FMlix Sarlat, uses a drafting
machine to work on afield sheet. In the background, laborer Dionisio Diaz places a prism holder to calculate a distance.

Survey methods
In the photo above, Topography Section labor
apoint on the Miraflores tow tracks. In thephoi
left, and Gustavo Salado, use the globalpositio
containing a radio-modem that receives corre,
of this type of survey is to establish control pt

Mention of the Panama Canal Commis-
sion Surveys Branch immediately conjures
up images of measuring things. However,
the work performed by the branch's 70 em-
ployees is more involved and complex than
that, since their job is to support the diverse
activities of a number of units.
Surveys Branch Manager Jaime
Rodriguez explained that the mission of this
branch is to perform surveys, develop topo-
graphic and hydrographic maps and maintain
triangulation stations and reference points at
exact levels. In reference to the multiple
functions performed by the personnel under
him, Rodriguez added, "There is no con-
struction project that can begin or end with-
out us, because we perform the design and
final inspection support."
The Surveys Branch consists of four
sections hydrography, topography, cartog-
raphy and the special section to efficiently
manage the variety of assignments.
Personnel assigned to the Hydrographic
Section are in charge of gathering informa-
tion about the depth of the Canal's navigable

channel. They also make hydrographic sound-
ings to define all approaches, entrances and
other areas that are part of the waterway.
Topographic surveying is the Topogra-
phy Section's main task. In addition, this
section is in charge of tracing maps, taking
locks measurements and surveying construc-
tion sites.
The Cartography Section is responsible
for preparing navigation charts. This section
provides technical services for the prepara-
tion of topographic and hydrographic maps
and charts. To perform these extensive du-
ties, personnel in this section have to gather,
review and edit field data.
The principal task of the Special Section,
on the other hand, is the control and monitor-
ing of slope stability along the banks of
Gaillard Cut. Personnel work with employ-
ees assigned to the Geotechnical Branch Land-
slide Control Program. Special section per-
sonnel are also involved in the inspection and
evaluation of structures, including the mea-
surement of the three Canal dams -
Miraflores, Madden and Gatun.

In order to provide efficient and reliable
results, branch personnel use the latest in
technology, including global positioning sys-
tem (GPS) equipment. Hydrographic Section
field supervisor Francisco PelAez commented,
"GPS technology has revolutionized ourwork
and has become the cornerstone of the
branch."
Currently, the branch is an active partici-
pant in supporting the "squat" study, which is
related to the precise calculation of draft
requirements for transiting ships; monitoring
lake levels; and measuring locks locomotive
tow track.
"We work as a team to collect the most
accurate information in the shortest time,"
said Rodriguez about the coordination and
support the branch offers to other Commis-
sion units. The word support is key in the
performance of Surveys Branch duties, be-
cause their aim is to meet the needs and
requirements of other divisions.
The photos on this page illustrate just a
few of the varied types of work performed by
Surveys Branch personnel.

Keeping an eye on the base station
Topography Section student assistant Ferdinand Edwards watches
over thebasestation that is located at a recognized spot near the Water
Filtration Plant. The base station receives satellite signals and sends
corrections to the rover station.